Last weekend, I strolled with a friend through the famous Highgate Cemetery. It’s one of London’s most magnificent cemeteries and an absolute must-visit for anyone fascinated by intriguing historical sites.
Here is a visitor’s guide to exploring Highgate Cemetery with tips to help you make the most of your visit.
Tickets and Access
We bought tickets online for a self-guided tour of the West Cemetery, which also gave us access to the East Cemetery. You can also buy tickets on-site.
Alternatively, you can book a guided tour. The Terrace Catacombs are only open to tour participants, and you’ll get a deeper look into the cemetery’s history and people who were buried there. The guided tours often sell out fast, so it’s best to book in advance.
Address: Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane
London N6 6PJ
Opening hours:
March to October, daily 10am - 5pm
November to February, daily 10am - 4pm
Exploring the West Cemetery
We began our visit with the West Cemetery, which I found much more impressive than the East one.
It’s older and more captivating, with winding paths leading up the hill to impressive tombs and funerary monuments like the Circle of Lebanon, a set of tombs built around an ancient cedar tree, and the Egyptian Avenue, featuring rows of family tombs inspired by Egyptian architecture.
We felt the atmosphere of romantic decay as we wandered among crumbling, ancient tombstones, some so old their inscriptions were illegible.
We saw beautifully chiselled but often broken statues, catacombs, and old, dusty chapels covered in ivy.
It felt like we were on a Tim Burton movie set, surrounded by a surreal, dreamy, and gothic world.
Highgate Cemetery is perfect for those who enjoy “Burtonesque” mysteries that evoke a strange sense of dread.
I wouldn’t recommend reading about the Highgate vampire or any ghost stories before visiting, especially if you plan to come after dark (lol).
Despite the moody atmosphere, we had a great time on our walk.
We often paused to read old inscriptions, reflecting on history and learning about the lives of some famous people buried there. The map we received at the entrance was helpful in locating their graves.
Exploring the East Cemetery
After exploring the West Cemetery, we moved on to the East Cemetery, which is still an active graveyard.
The East Cemetery has a different character. It’s less quirky and neglected but is equally interesting.
It features many unusual burials. The most famous one is Karl Marx’s grave. We also found many other truly bizarre and one-of-a-kind headstones.
We enjoyed strolling through the alleys, sitting on benches, and soaking up the sun after several hours of rain. Suddenly, the atmosphere became more cheerful and light-hearted.
Wildlife in the Highgate Cemetery
We were pleasantly surprised by the abundance of wildlife in the cemetery. You can see everything from blooming flowers to various types of birds.
Even foxes roam the area. At one point, I spotted a pair of spiky, fluffy ears poking above the grass. A shy little fox, which had been cleverly avoiding my camera, finally came out of hiding, giving me the chance to capture a photo.
The resident cat
Being pet obsessed, I couldn’t resist befriending the resident cat.
The little poser loved being in front of the camera, and the camera loved him right back. I see him every time I visit Highgate Cemetery, and if you’re attentive, you’ll spot him too.
Practical information
After our visit to the cemetery, we headed to the Archway tube station through nearby Waterlow Park. I highly recommend stopping there for a breathtaking view of the city.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS
You can book your self-guided visit to the cemetery here. West Cemetery ticket costs 10£ / person (the East Cemetery entry is included in the price)
HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest underground station is Archway, or Highgate if you don’t mind a longer walk.
THE BEST TOUR AROUND HIGHGATE CEMETERY
HIGHGATE SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR
If you’re interested in exploring more of Highgate, I’ve created an itinerary for a walk through this lovely London neighbourhood. It includes a visit to Highgate Cemetery. You can read it here.
Somehow I’ve never made it here, so I will definitely have to check it out the next time I’m in London! And your fox pictures are amazing!!!
Author
Absolutely! It’s one of the most famous cemeteries in London and a very interesting place to visit. I’m so happy you like the pictures of the fox 😉 He was such a poser!